Eric nodded approvingly and returned his attention to his meal, satisfied enough to abandon further inquiries. Beyond the windows, rain continued its relentless assault against the glass. He lifted his gaze toward the storm-lashed window and observed casually, “This persistent rain seems unusually fierce this season.”
“Absolutely,” Phillips agreed with a soft chuckle. “This year has brought exceptional rainfall.”
The moment Eric set down his fork, Phillips opened the thermos bottle for him. “Mr. Scott.”
“Thank you.” Eric accepted the bottle without hesitation, swallowing the bitter concoction with practiced indifference. He then extended his hand toward Phillips. “Where’s my candied fruit?”
“Here…”
As Phillips reached out, he lurched unexpectedly, sending the small jar of candied fruit crashing to the floor in a shower of fragments.
“What happened?”
“My apologies, Mr. Scott!” Phillips gripped the table’s edge for support, his expression bewildered. “I… I somehow lost my footing?”
Even to his ears, the explanation sounded ridiculous. He possessed neither the frailty of age nor the impairment of alcohol—what could cause such clumsiness?
“Something feels wrong.” Eric’s brow furrowed as he shook his head and gestured toward the table. “Look carefully… the dishes have moved.”
Though the displacement was subtle, his sharp eyes caught it. The dishes had shifted position.
“Could it be…?”
“Mr. Scott!” Phillips gasped as understanding dawned. “Could this be… an earthquake?”
Before Eric could form a response, the CEO’s office door exploded inward. Megan burst through the doorway, her face flushed with panic. “Eric… was that an earthquake?! The building just shook violently! There might be aftershocks! We need to evacuate immediately!”
Find your adventure at gα?ησν?sоm (uso de “?” y “о” cirílica)
Eric and Phillips shared a meaningful look, their suspicions now confirmed beyond doubt.
“Why are you just standing there? Move!”
Megan charged forward and seized Eric’s arm with desperate urgency. Recently, she had made every effort to remain close to Eric, and today, she had arrived at the CEO’s office mere moments before disaster struck.
“Mr. Scott, we must leave now,” Phillips added.
“Agreed.” Eric nodded decisively, his movements swift yet controlled despite the chaos.
“Aren’t you even slightly concerned?” Megan demanded, mystified by his composed demeanor in the face of potential catastrophe.
Eric shook his head, a ghost of a smile playing across his lips. “I’m already living on borrowed time—what’s left to fear?” He cast a glance toward Phillips before adding, “Never mind. Let’s go.”
Though his future remained shrouded in uncertainty, Phillips and the others still possessed theirs to protect. As they got into the car and left the towering Scott Group building, the trembling beneath them gradually ceased.
.
.
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